January 24/04 8:39 am - BC Women's Conference, Tour d'Afrique

The first Conference on Women's Cycling in BC will be held on Saturday, February 7th, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, at the Sport BC Building, located at 1367 West Broadway.

The goals of the Conference include:

* Identifying ways to reduce the barriers to entry for women's cycling* Identifying other women's cycling issues at both the grassroots and elite levels* Electing three women representatives for Cycling BC Committees; one for each of the High Performance, Junior, and Road, Track & Cyclocross Committees* To develop and prioritize action items

Discussion topics will include all issues facing women's cycling; including participation and growth of the sport at the grassroots level, athlete development, and the pursuit of high performance excellence. This Conference needs your input on these discussions! Your attendance is integral to its success.

The Conference Chair will be Pamela Egger, Masters National Road and Time Trial Champion and successful corporate finance lawyer. Key guest speakers expected are Olympic medalist and National Team Member, Alison Sydor and former Olympian and National Team Member, and current CCA board member, Leslie Tomlinson, speaking on their experiences as pro cyclists. Another key speaker expected is Heather Johnston, founder of Northwest Womens Cycling, speaking on the Seriessuccesses and challenges experienced in growing womens cycling in Washington State.

Don't miss this critical opportunity to make a positive change in the current conditions and opportunities for women in cycling! It will also be an excellent opportunity to network with other women involved in bicycle racing as athletes, coaches, and club members.

The BC Women's Cycling Conference is part of Cycling BC's effort to stimulate participation, development, and excellence in the sport of women's cycling in BC.

Among this year's participants is a double amputee and a para-Olympian Armin Koehli from Switzerland, who hopes to be the first handicapped person to complete the whole race.

Another participant, Afro-American David Sylvester, is a personal trainer and a fitness guru who lost a friend in the twin towers attack in New York on 9/11. In his memory, he has set up a Kevin Bowser Scholarship Foundation and is using the Tour to raise funds for college scholarships for young men and women from the Afro-American community.

"I want the kids in our community to realize that the world is bigger than your block or the 'hood' in Philadelphia," says Sylvester. "I am also trying to show the kids that whatever you want to do if you put your mind to it, you can do it."

Canadians Henry Gold and Michael De Jong, who founded Tour d'Afrique in 2002, created the event with a three-fold mandate: that it be open to both amateur and professional cyclists; foster international goodwill; and raise funds to promote environmental, ecological and educational programs throughout Africa.

"It's a race," said Henry Gold "but we like to think of it as more of a personal quest; a journey that challenges the soul, and the mind, as well as the body".

Michael De Jong concurs, "This is not a trip for those weak of body or spirit, but all participants are guaranteed a remarkable and personally satisfying journey across a continent with an overabundance of exceptional attributes".

In addition to the racers, there are several other individuals who will cycle a section of the tour.

"It is still not too late and partake in the 2004 Tour. Bikers can still join the Tour and bike any portion of the latter sections", says Henry Gold.